Unit 319 District 319 (Region 3)
High Continental Divide country south of Anaconda — brow-tined bulls, Mount Haggin WMA, and Big Hole wintering range.
Anaconda-Pintler / Mount Haggin — Region 3 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
621
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–10,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
District 319 covers the rugged high country of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties south of Anaconda and west of Butte, straddling the Continental Divide where peaks top 10,500 feet. The 45,000-acre Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area anchors the district alongside vast Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, and BLM ground, making public access excellent. Elk, mule deer, and whitetail are all available; the Big Hole River valley on the west side provides critical winter range for elk and mule deer, while whitetails hold in the bottoms year-round. Roadless terrain and scattered private sanctuaries keep this a genuine backcountry challenge.
Terrain
Steep, high mountains along the Continental Divide dropping to the broad Big Hole River valley on the west; extensive roadless and wilderness terrain.
Cover: Lodgepole, Douglas fir, and spruce timber on the slopes with high alpine basins and rock above treeline; sagebrush, willow bottoms, and grassy meadows in the Big Hole valley and on Mount Haggin's open parks.
Landmarks: Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area · Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness · Continental Divide · Big Hole River · Mount Haggin · Fleecer Mountain area
Access
Public access is excellent — the Mount Haggin WMA, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, and Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness open enormous acreage, supplemented by BLM parcels. Private ranches in the valley bottoms create wildlife sanctuaries; some are enrolled in FWP's Block Management program for free public hunting, so check current BMA maps. DNRC state trust parcels are open with a conservation/recreation permit. WMA seasonal closures and travel restrictions apply.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT FWP Mount Haggin WMA, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust
Access points: Mill Creek / Mount Haggin WMA roads off Hwy 274 · Hwy 43 / Big Hole River corridor · Twin Lakes and Continental Divide trailheads · Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF roads out of Wise River and Anaconda
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe marquee species — elk summer high along the Divide and shift to the Big Hole valley winter range as snow builds. A brow-tined-bull restriction protects an older age class.
- →Hunt high timber and alpine basins along the Divide in archery season
- →Watch migration timing — elk drop toward Big Hole winter range with the first hard snow
- →Work Mount Haggin WMA's parks and timber edges at first and last light
- →Glass big roadless faces and be ready to pack out deep
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer hold in the high basins and open slopes in early season, then use the Big Hole valley as winter range; remote country can produce a good buck.
- →Glass high open basins and burns early in the season
- →Hunt the timber-and-rock transition on the Divide
- →Follow deer toward lower valley winter range as weather turns
Whitetail Deer
common opportunityWhitetail are year-round residents of the Big Hole River bottoms and valley ag edges — the reliable deer opportunity when the high country is snowed in.
- →Still-hunt willow and cottonwood river bottoms during the November rut
- →Hunt ag and private edges via Block Management
- →Glass valley fields at dawn and dusk
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear work the timbered slopes and berry brush; a solid spring and fall opportunity in the forest country.
- →Glass green-up avalanche chutes and south slopes in spring
- →Key on berry brush and forest openings in fall
- →Confirm species carefully — grizzlies increasingly move through this Divide country
Moose
limited opportunityShiras moose scatter through willow bottoms and wet drainages; a coveted limited-permit species here.
- →Hunt willow flats and beaver-pond complexes
- →Glass wet meadows at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Learn the elk migration — early-season animals are high on the Divide, but a hard snow pulls them toward the Big Hole valley winter range where the hunt can transform overnight
- →Mount Haggin WMA is a huge public-access asset; know its seasonal closures and travel rules
- →Brow-tined-bull rules mean you're hunting mature bulls — pass young ones and be sure of the antler
- →Whitetail in the Big Hole bottoms are the fallback when the high country snows in
- →This is deep, roadless country — plan your pack-out before you pull the trigger
Watch out for
- !High-elevation weather turns fast — early snow, cold, and whiteouts along the Continental Divide
- !Grizzly bears are increasingly documented moving through the Anaconda-Pintler and Divide country — carry bear spray and be certain of your bear before shooting
- !Private valley ranches are wildlife sanctuaries — know boundaries and use Block Management legally
- !Roadless and wilderness terrain means long, physical pack-outs
- !Wet dirt roads and WMA travel restrictions can limit vehicle access
Logistics
Base out of Anaconda or Butte for full services; Wise River and Wisdom offer fuel and limited supplies closer to the Big Hole. Forest and WMA roads range from decent gravel to rough spurs, and high trailheads require real backcountry effort. Cell service is spotty off the highways — carry a GPS and a satellite messenger.
Nearest towns: Anaconda, Wise River, Butte, Wisdom
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT Montana Unit 319 Profile (FWP description) · FWP Region 3 Hunting Forecasts (Anaconda Leader) · USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
FAQ
- How big is Unit 319 in Montana?
- Unit 319 (District 319 (Region 3)) covers about 621 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 10,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 319?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, MT FWP Mount Haggin WMA, BLM, private ranch + Block Management, MT DNRC state trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 319?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 319 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.